SALE first XI beat Bowdon on Saturday to move up Division One of the Cheshire County league as the season reached the halfway point.

After restricting the visitors with a fine display in the field, Sale chalked up a comfortable five-wicket victory.

Sale asked Bowdon to bat first and got off to the perfect start when Tyrone Lawrence had the dangerous Pat Ashling caught second ball.

Fellow opener Hamish Dunlop fell soon after for two to Ali Barrowman with the score on 12.

Barrowman took another wicket before the introduction of Cheshire Under-14 spinner Isaac Brooks yielded three more wickets to leave Bowdon in trouble.

Tom Graham led the recovery, marshalling the tail with an unbeaten 79, as Bowdon closed on a below-par 178-8.  Brooks finished the pick of the bowling with 3-61, Barrowman and Rick Halkon both taking two wickets each.

Sale got off to an even worse start in their reply, losing Sam Battersby to a run-out without facing a ball.

However, they recovered quickly as Matt Wilson added a fluent 26 and Mat Spells 22 to take the score to 79-3.

Lawrence then took charge of the run chase, with a patent 51 not out, well supported by 21 from Ryan Burgess and a welcome return to form from Chris Canning (33no) as Sale coasted home with an over to spare.

The second XI also won in the reverse fixture at Bowdon, skipper Jamal Benzafar leading his team to victory with 64 as Sale chased down 201 for the loss of seven wickets with four overs to spare.

Sale bowled the home side out in the final over of their innings, Tom Riley leading the way with 5-42, well supported by Moh Rizvi (3-37) and Siyan Siraj (2-40).

After Benzafar’s start, youngsters Viraj Sorathia and Dan Newton both contributed 20 to the chase before veteran Abbas Rizvi scored an unbeaten 38 to complete the chase.

Sale's thirds lost at Stockport on Sunday after being bowled out for 165 in pursuit of the home side’s 236 all out, Soans Praveen the standout player with 62 runs and three wickets.

The fourths completed a welcome win at home to Bollington thirds.

Theo Brodbeck (35), Dyalan Walker (28) and Ibrahim Shareef (25no) were the main contributors to Sale’s 151-7.

In reply, Bollington were bowled out for 123, Joe Wicks taking 5-23.

Earlier in the week, the Silverbacks lost to second-placed Cheadle Hulme in the over-40s' competition.

Tris Brodbeck (30 retired), Mark Rowe (29) and Asad Khan (23) were top scorers as Sale posted 122-4.

Cheadle Hulme reached their target in the 19th over, Rob Moore and Ian Holland the wicket takers.

This weekend Sale welcome Davenham to Dane Road, with the seconds travelling to Tattenhall.

On Sunday, the third XI travel to Alderley Edge and the fourths entertain Hyde.